This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Heleen M. Evenhuis, MD

Arch Neurol. 1990;47(3):263-267.

Abstract
• In a prospective longitudinal study with death as the end point in 17 middleaged patients with Down's syndrome, dementia was clinically diagnosed in 15 patients, by means of careful observations in daily circumstances. Autopsies were performed in 10 cases: 8 demented patients and 2 nondemented patients. Neuropathologically, Alzheimer-type abnormalities were demonstrated in 9 patients, both demented and nondemented, and combined Alzheimer-type abnormalities with infarctions were demonstrated in 1 patient. In the 14 demented patients who did not show evidence of cerebrovascular or systemic vascular disease, dementia had an early onset and was rapidly progressive (mean age at onset, 51.3 years in the moderately retarded patients and 52.6 years in the severely retarded patients; mean duration of symptoms, respectively, 4.9 and 5.2 years). Cognitive and behavioral decline corresponded to symptoms of dementia of the Alzheimer's type in patients without Down's syndrome, but often were not recognized early. In the present group of patients, there was a remarkably high incidence of gait and speech deterioration. Also, the incidence of epileptic seizures and myoclonus was about eightfold, as compared with dementia of the Alzheimer's type in patients without Down's syndrome.

Author Affiliations
From Hooge Burch, Institute for the Mentally Retarded, Zwammerdam, the Netherlands.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 28, 1989.

Reprint requests to Hooge Burch, Institute for the Mentally Retarded, PO Box 2027, 2427 AA Zwammerdam, the Netherlands (Dr Evenhuis).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Aging and Down Syndrome: Implications for Physical Therapy
Barnhart and Connolly
ptjournal 2007;87:1399-1406.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

99mTc-HMPAO Brain Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Children with Down Syndrome: Relationship to Epilepsy, Thyroid Functions, and Congenital Heart Disease
Altiay et al.
J Child Neurol 2006;21:610-614.
ABSTRACT  

A comparison of reports of caregiver burden between foster family care providers and staff caregivers in other settings: A pilot study
McCallion et al.
Dementia 2005;4:401-412.
ABSTRACT  

Age-related cortical grey matter reductions in non-demented Down's syndrome adults determined by MRI with voxel-based morphometry
Teipel et al.
Brain 2004;127:811-824.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Down's syndrome and dementia
Stanton and Coetzee
Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 2004;10:50-58.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Relation of Corpus Callosum and Hippocampal Size to Age in Nondemented Adults With Down's Syndrome
Teipel et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2003;160:1870-1878.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Assessment of Behavioural Decline in Adults with Down's Syndrome
McKenzie et al.
J Intellect Disabil 2002;6:175-184.
ABSTRACT  

Practical Geriatics: Issues Affecting the Lives of Older Persons With Developmental Disabilities
Griswold and Goldstein
Psychiatr. Serv. 1999;50:315-317.
FULL TEXT  

A prospective, longitudinal study of functional decline in individuals with Down's syndrome
McKenzie et al.
J Intellect Disabil 1998;2:98-104.
ABSTRACT  

The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease in Adults With Down Syndrome
Prasher et al.
Arch Neurol 1996;53:1310-1313.
ABSTRACT  

The Medical and Health Status of Older People With Mental Retardation in Australia
Ashman and Suttie
Journal of Applied Gerontology 1996;15:57-72.
ABSTRACT  

Neuropathological Changes in Down's Syndrome Hippocampal Formation: Effect of Age and Apolipoprotein E Genotype
Hyman et al.
Arch Neurol 1995;52:373-378.
ABSTRACT  

Age-Related Distribution of Neuropathologic Changes in the Cerebral Cortex of Patients With Down's Syndrome: Quantitative Regional Analysis and Comparison With Alzheimer's Disease
Hof et al.
Arch Neurol 1995;52:379-391.
ABSTRACT  

Common Syndromes and Management Issues for Primary Care Physicians: Down Syndrome An Update and Review for the Primary Pediatrician
Cooley and Graham
CLIN PEDIATR 1991;30:233-253.
 

Seizure Disorders in Down Syndrome
Pueschel et al.
Arch Neurol 1991;48:318-320.
ABSTRACT